Ricketson tells 13WMAZ he sent a crime scene analyst and two agents to investigate the claims. He says they found "enough probable cause" to justify charging Brown.

Swicord said Brown and the inmate allegedly had sex in a day room of the jail's women's dorm.

He would not describe the encounter, but said Brown would have faced a different charge if investigators hadn't believed the sex was consensual.

The inmate told a female jailer about it the next day, he said.

Swicord said Brown had worked for his department for less than a year. He said Brown has now been fired.

In a news release, the chief wrote, "This type of behavior, whether consensual or not, will not be tolerated. I stand behind the decision of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to charge and arrest this officer.

"We are committed to keeping our jail detainees safe from harm whiel in our custody and reassure our community that this behavior will not go unpunished."